British police intervention was underway on Saturday 20 June in Reading, a town of 200,000 west of London, local officials said. They evoke a "Serious incident" which injured several people.
Police and rescue workers responded after being called in the early evening for an incident in which several people were stabbed in Forbury Gardens around 7 p.m. local time (8 p.m. in Paris), according to a statement from local police. A security perimeter was set up on the scene, the police calling on the public to "Avoid the area".
"A number of people were injured and taken to the hospital"local police reported on Twitter, adding that a man had been arrested on the spot and taken into police custody.
We are aware of reports of an incident in Forbury Gardens, Reading. Officers are on the scene and investigating the incident.
The Telegraph made him state of three deceased persons. Police treat the incident as a random attack, the newspaper said. Video footage posted on Twitter shows caregivers rushing to help at least three bleeding people on the ground in a park – the authenticity of these images has not been proven.
The National Council of Chiefs of Police, representing senior police officers, asked people on Twitter to avoid speculation about the incident and to refrain from sharing videos or images of it.
Minister of the Interior's concern
According to the PA agency and Sky News, citing anonymous sources, a terrorist act is suspected but the police have not spoken on the subject.
The accident came hours after an anti-racist rally was held. "It has nothing to do with the demonstration"said an organizer, Nieema Hassan in a video on social networks, an assertion also made by the police. None of the people who took part in the demonstration were affected, "We were gone when it happened".
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed his "Thoughts of all those affected by the appalling events of Reading" in a tweet thanking emergency services. Interior Minister Priti Patel said "Deeply concerned" in a tweet.
Deeply concerned to hear reports of an incident in Reading. My thoughts are with everyone involved, including pol… https://t.co/u7SradgbGD
Reading local council chief Jason Brock urged people to stay away from downtown.
